AUO regrets U.S. court ruling, intends to appeal

2012/09/21 12:01:43

Taipei, Sept. 21 (CNA) Taiwan-based panel maker AU Optronics Co. (AUO) expressed regret Friday over a court ruling in the U.S. that charged the company with colluding with rivals to fix prices on flat-panel screens, saying it intended to lodge an appeal.

"We are dissatisfied with the judgment that failed to prove us innocence and integrity," said Paul Peng, AUO's president, at a press briefing in Taipei in the wake of the ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

The court imposed a fine of US$500 million, payable in three years.

AUO was charged by the U.S. government in June 2010 with participating in price fixing practices regarding flat panel screens between 2001 and 2006.

In March, AUO, the company's vice chairman Chen Hsuan-bin and former vice president Hsiung Hui were found guilty in the price fixing case.

Asked when the company will appeal, Peng said his company is evaluating the situation and "there is not yet an affirmative answer."